External Affairs Minister Jaishankar Holds Talks with Russian President Putin in Moscow
- MGMMTeam
- Aug 21
- 5 min read
Global geopolitics is witnessing another pivotal shift. India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, concluded a significant diplomatic mission to Moscow this week, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The visit, already important in the context of India–Russia relations, assumed even greater weight against the backdrop of Washington’s latest move: sweeping tariffs on Indian exports, allegedly in retaliation for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
This clash of economic pressure, energy security, and strategic partnerships is emblematic of the increasingly complex world India navigates. While critics see India’s Russian energy dependence as undermining sanctions on Moscow, New Delhi insists that its decisions are pragmatic, rooted in national interest, and reflective of an evolving multipolar order.
A Longstanding Strategic Partnership
India and Russia share one of the most enduring partnerships in international relations, one that stretches back to the Soviet era. During the Cold War, Moscow was New Delhi’s most reliable ally, providing arms, diplomatic support at the United Nations, and assistance in heavy industry and energy development.
Even after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia remained India’s principal defense partner. Joint projects such as the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and India’s large fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft underscore the depth of this cooperation. More recently, India’s acquisition of the S-400 Triumf air defense systems from Russia—despite U.S. objections—demonstrated New Delhi’s willingness to withstand Western pressure to preserve its strategic autonomy.
Dr. Jaishankar reminded his Russian counterparts during the visit that “relations between the two countries have been among the steadiest of major nations in the world since World War Two.” This stability is not only a matter of diplomatic ties but also of mutual trust built over decades of defense, energy, and scientific collaboration.
The Energy Factor: Oil as the Cornerstone
The most pressing driver of India–Russia relations today is energy. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war in 2022 and the imposition of Western sanctions, Russia began selling its crude oil at discounted rates. India seized the opportunity, rapidly increasing its purchases.
Within two years, Russia had emerged as India’s largest supplier of crude oil, overtaking traditional partners such as Iraq and Saudi Arabia. In some months of 2024, India even surpassed China as the biggest buyer of Russian seaborne oil.
For India, this was not merely opportunistic buying but a matter of energy security. With a fast-growing economy and heavy dependence on imports for nearly 85% of its crude needs, discounted Russian oil helped New Delhi contain inflation, keep domestic fuel prices relatively stable, and safeguard its economic recovery after the pandemic.
Russia, in turn, found a dependable market for its oil exports at a time when European buyers were exiting under sanctions. To navigate financial restrictions, the two sides established alternative payment systems, increasingly relying on rupee–rouble trade and exploring settlement in local currencies to bypass the U.S. dollar.
Lavrov, speaking after his meeting with Jaishankar, underscored that a “special system” has been put in place to ensure continued oil supplies to India despite sanctions. This arrangement has become a lifeline for Moscow’s economy and a cost-saving boon for India’s consumers.
U.S. Tariffs: A Clash Over Trade
The deepening oil trade has, however, drawn sharp reactions from Washington. The United States recently imposed tariffs of up to 50% on Indian exports. The move includes a blanket 25% tariff on certain categories of goods, with an additional 25% specifically aimed at penalizing India’s purchases of Russian crude.
The Trump administration has argued that India’s actions indirectly support Moscow’s war effort by providing a revenue stream to the Kremlin. But New Delhi sees this as a case of double standards.
Jaishankar was blunt in his rebuttal: “India is neither the biggest buyer of Russian oil nor the largest importer of Russian LNG. China and Europe hold those positions. To single out India is perplexing and unfair.” His statement reflects New Delhi’s longstanding grievance that Western nations often continue trading with Russia while criticizing India’s decisions.
For India, the tariffs represent more than just an economic blow—they are seen as an infringement on its strategic autonomy. The message from New Delhi is clear: energy purchases will be guided by domestic needs, not by external dictates.
The Trade Imbalance Challenge
While energy imports have strengthened ties with Russia, they have also created a glaring trade imbalance. India’s trade deficit with Moscow has ballooned to nearly $59 billion, driven almost entirely by oil.
During his visit, Jaishankar emphasized the urgency of correcting this imbalance. India is keen to expand exports in pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, textiles, and machinery to Russia. Both sides discussed reducing non-tariff barriers and accelerating logistical routes such as the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the Chennai–Vladivostok maritime route, and the Northern Sea Route via the Arctic.
This focus is not new. Since the late 2010s, India has been pushing to expand its economic footprint in Russia’s Far East, a region rich in natural resources but underdeveloped. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the Russian Far East as a “convergence point” for India’s Act East policy and Russia’s pivot to Asia.
Defense Cooperation: A Reliable Anchor
Even as energy dominates the present discourse, defense remains the backbone of the India–Russia relationship. More than 60% of India’s current military hardware is of Russian origin. From aircraft carriers to tanks, Russia’s role in shaping India’s defense capabilities has been unparalleled.
Joint ventures like BrahMos Aerospace, which produces one of the world’s fastest cruise missiles, symbolize this collaboration. The lease of Russian nuclear-powered submarines has also significantly enhanced India’s naval capabilities.
Despite India’s growing defense purchases from the United States, France, and Israel, Moscow remains a trusted partner. The continuation of major defense deals signals that the relationship is not transactional but deeply strategic.
A Strategic Message to the United States
Indian analysts and political leaders have interpreted Jaishankar’s Moscow visit as more than a bilateral engagement—it was also a strategic signal to Washington. A BJP leader described the meeting as a “big strategic message” to the U.S., underscoring India’s unwillingness to succumb to pressure.
For India, the partnership with Russia is part of a broader doctrine of multi-alignment—building strong relations with all major powers while avoiding dependence on any single one. This approach has allowed New Delhi to engage with the U.S. through defense agreements and the Quad grouping, while simultaneously deepening ties with Moscow and maintaining strong relations with Europe and West Asia.
Multilateral Cooperation and Global Governance
The Moscow meetings also touched on broader global issues. Both nations reiterated the importance of reforming international institutions, particularly the United Nations Security Council, where India seeks permanent membership. They also reaffirmed coordination in forums such as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the G20.
This shared emphasis reflects the growing desire among non-Western powers to shape a multipolar world order, one where the dominance of Western-led institutions is diluted by emerging voices from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Conclusion: Strategic Autonomy in Action
Dr. Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow encapsulates India’s approach to global affairs in the 21st century. It is a balancing act—asserting independence in decision-making while maintaining constructive engagement with multiple partners.
The U.S. tariffs are unlikely to alter India’s energy policy. Instead, they may accelerate New Delhi’s efforts to diversify trade, reduce vulnerabilities, and strengthen partnerships that respect its sovereignty. The meeting with President Putin was more than a diplomatic courtesy; it was a reaffirmation of a relationship rooted in history, sustained by mutual interests, and redefined by contemporary challenges.
In an increasingly fragmented world order, India is signaling that it will not be forced into binary choices. Its foreign policy will remain guided by national interest, resilience, and the belief that multipolarity—not alignment—is the path forward.
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